Browsing Archive November, 2009

Have you ever read the line that says “CEA-2006 compliant” on an amplifier’s features and thought to yourself, “I wonder what that means..”? CEA-2006 compliant is not just an advertising claim. If an amplifier is CEA-2006 compliant, that means that this amp has been tested by the Consumer Electronics Association to verify its ratings. By meeting the CEA 2006 standards, you can trust that the amplifier’s ratings are accurate. CEA 2006 tests the two most important amplifier ratings (and the two ratings that are the most likely to be fabricated): RMS Power (how loud it plays) and Signal-to-Noise ratio (how clearly it sounds). Both car amplifiers and car stereos undergo CEA 2006 testing in order to verify their external amp power rating. The CEA logo will appear on the boxes of products that meet the standards.

Are manufacturers required to submit their products to the CEA-2006 testing? Unfortunately, the answer is no. CEA-2006 testing is voluntary, so not all manufacturers send their products in for testing. Some manufacturers may overstate an amplifier’s power ratings to make it seem more powerful, and as a result, appear more valuable. This is why CEA-2006 testing is so important. In order to avoid buying amps with inflated power numbers, you should only believe the ratings of CEA tested products.

In order to make the testing uniform, CEA uses a standard that measures an amplifier’s RMS power and signal-to-noise ratio. This allows consumers to compare amplifiers across the industry. The consistency of the testing guarantees that all car amplifiers are measured equally, and most importantly, that they have accurate ratings. The CEA logo is officially licensed by the Consumer Electronics Association to guarantee that the product ratings comply with the CEA 2006 standard. Besides a CEA logo, CEA tested products mention CEA compliancy in the manual and on the manufacturer website. Avoid false marketing schemes and buy CEA tested products.

When it comes to amps, you don’t want to skimp on power. Did you know that slightly over-powering your subwoofers is actually better than slightly under-powering them? With the Eclipse XA1200 mono amplifier, power will not be a problem. If you wire this amp at 4 ohms, it will produce an impressive 500 watts of RMS power. Better yet, at 2 ohms it can produce 600 watts of RMS power. The advanced MOSFET power supply ensures a steady flow of wattage will be fed into the subwoofer from the amplifier. This amp is also designed with the special ICEpower technology, which means that for its power, this amp requires less energy and space than the average amp.

The Eclipse XA-1200 includes a wired remote bass level control, a key user-friendly feature. The bass remote allows you to adjust the bass output without having to access the amp itself. You can boost the bass from 0-8 decibels. In terms of heat dissipation, its heavy duty aluminum alloy heatsink allows you to push the XA1200 at the top output levels without overheating. While in action the amp’s blue led indicator lights up to signal that the power is flowing. This complements the black and silver finish.

With two 40A fuses and a built-in variable low-pass filter (40-500 Hz), this amp is well-equipped and will provide superior sound quality to your vehicle. Besides this amp, all you need is an amp wiring kit to install the missing piece to your great system. We recommend using a 4-gauge power and ground installation kit when it comes time to install your amp. And once you hook this amp up, you will be able to hear and feel the difference from the way your subs pound!

Everyone is looking for a great deal this holiday season, and if you’re trying to find a gift for the last person on your list, why not give them something that will give them joy and great music! A new CD player is a great gift idea for those in your life who need a unit that can do it all without a fancy display and confusing interface. Pioneer Premier head units are made with the highest quality materials and will give your vehicle the sound it needs for years to come.

The Pioneer Premier DEH-P410UB is an in-dash CD/MP3 receiver with direct iPod connectivity and a front 3.5mm auxiliary input. The rear USB connection is perfect for someone with an iPod. There is no need for additional iPod modules, which means less money and installation time. A great feature unique to this Pioneer unit is the Advanced Sound Retriever technology. This restores the lost audio frequencies in compressed music, resulting in enhanced music playback. This head unit has many more options besides great iPod playback and audio features. For example, you can add Bluetooth and Sirius Satellite radio.

As you may have noticed in our previous post, we have our own 12V testing bay. So of course, I had to take this unit and test out all it’s features before introducing it to you. The OEL (Organic Electro Luminescence) display showed my iPod information such as artist and song information right there on the screen. This is a major plus in my book since I always have to know who I’m listening to.

The Pioneer Premier DEH-P410UB is a great Christmas gift and with all of its wonderful features, it will make anyone happy!

This Black Friday, everyone is looking for the best deals on the market. But you don’t have to wait until Black Friday to start saving money on consumer electronics. If you are looking to spend $100 or less on a high quality car stereo, the Kenwood KDC-MP142 is the choice for you. At our special price of only $79.99, this in-dash CD, MP3, WMA and AM/FM car radio is an absolute bargain.

With key features such as an illuminated front aux input and a handy wireless remote, the Kenwood KDC-MP142 receiver is going to fly off of the shelves this holiday season. The front aux input makes it easy to connect portable media players so that you can listen to all of your favorite music as you drive. While this stereo does not include any of the advanced expandability options (no Bluetooth, Satellite radio, or built-in iPod controls), its appeal is in its ease of use, sharp design and low price.

Using our 12V testing bay, I was able to get an up-close look at this head unit. The fluorescent display makes it easy to read the artist and title name as your song plays. Its built-in amp provides the industry standard 22 watts x 4 channels as expected. The KDC-MP142 includes 1 set of 2V preamp outputs, which allowed me to easily connect a subwoofer while testing it. Overall, the sound output was impressive as its 105 dB signal to noise ratio proved to be true to specs. I would highly recommend this car stereo for anyone looking for a great budget buy this holiday season. The Kenwood KDC-MP142 would be an excellent gift for anyone who needs a reliable car stereo in their vehicle.

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the holiday season. Consumers wait all year long to see what kind of deals their favorite stores are going to offer. Even if you do not want to brave the large mall crowds, you can still save by shopping online with Sonic Electronix! Our wide selection of consumer electronics makes it easy to find the right gift for everybody on your shopping list.

CD Players:

JVC has a great in-dash head unit that is sure to please! The KD-AVX40 has a 3.5” LCD monitor and will playback CD’s, DVD’s, and multiple other files. This unit even has built-in Bluetooth technology to support hands-free calling when paired with a compatible Bluetooth phone. A cool and unique feature is that this head unit has proximity sensors. The screen is black and when as you move your finger near the screen, it turns on the display.

Kenwood’s KDC-MP738U CD Receiver has multiple features and an easy-to-use interface. The KDC-MP738U CD/MP3/WMA Player has a USB Input for direct connectivity with an iPod. With this connection, you can listen to all of your favorite music while driving! Not only is there a USB input, you can even expand this head unit with the option for Bluetooth, Satellite Radio and HD Radio. This CD player would be great gift for your son or daughter because it provides all of the best options without including a distracting (and potentially dangerous) LCD screen.

Car Speakers:

A top performing car audio system must contain high quality aftermarket car speakers. The Rockford Fosgate Punch P1653 is a 6-1/2” full-range speaker with an integrated concealed crossover. This simplifies mounting and reduces the time spent on installation, which is a big plus when you want to see how loud they can go! These are a must for anyone with a good taste in music.

Car Alarms:

Do you know someone who has a system without an alarm to protect it? The Viper 7900 is a security car alarm system that will surely protect that investment. It features remote start and keyless entry with an OLED 2-Way remote. This car alarm is the perfect Christmas gift for anyone concerned with losing their system to theft.

We have multiple items to choose from this holiday season. From speakers to home electronics, we have got you covered!